Naxon



'March 3, 1964 l. NAxoN 3,123,815 MULTIPLE TAPE TRANSMITTERS CONTROLLING A TRAVELING yMESSAGE SIGN Filed March 27, 1962 E T- :E E?

j l f 43g QQ E l`\ k1? 31;/ I I: N Q R Nik illl l Q il' z N N I;

i: 'u i l- I I o i Q l c I l l IQT I l l h I X k i m f l United States Patent O 3,123,815 MULTIPLE TAPE TRANSMITTERS CONTROLLING A TRAVELING MESSAGE SGN Irving Naxon, 3600 W. Touhy Ave., Chicago 45, lll. Filed Mar. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 182,785 5 Claims. (Cl. 340-339) My invention relates to the transmission of impulses from a character-bearing tape, whereby to control the display of the characters in traveling message signs and the like. A transmitter for this purpose is illustrated and described in my Patent No. 2,817,703, dated December 24, 1957, and deals with the moving display of reading material as received and imposed on the tape.

In the operation of signs constituted as mentioned, I have foundas is done in radio broadcasting-that it is desirable to intersperse material of a secondary naturesuch as advertising-with greater facility and efficiency between the main information usually consisting of news flashes, so that material considered less desirable by the reader will nevertheless be included along with the news information. l have found that information so classified requires the more frequent preparation of message tapes than those containing advertising matter. Also, the latter is frequently of a nature to be prepared in advance, or to be used over and over again, while news-bearing tapes may only be used a short while and then become obsolete. While used advertising tapes could be run with fresh news tapes by interposition between news items, this involves a series of splicing operations. l have found that the effort and time expanded in interposing old advertising tapes offset the advantages of re-using them and that it is often more practical to re-type the desired commercials between a fresh series of news flashes or headlines.

In pursuance of the above reasoning, it is the main object of the present invention to place the main and secondary types of sign information in separate transmitting devices by providing a pair of impulse transmitters, each contributing its class of material to the impulses received by the sign.

A further object is to provide a novel switching technique between the dual transmitters, whereby to switch automatically from one to the other and vice-versa in predetermined sequence.

A still further object is to provide keyboard controlled means for effecting the automatic switching just mentioned.

Another object is to provide, in a traveling message sign system having a single display unitsuch as a bank of lamps-a plurality of transmitters for reading perforated, embossed, printed or other message tapes, the transmitters being connected to the said unit for progressive alternate operation in such a manner that when one feeds the tape with one type of sign information the other is inactive for feeding the same with the alternate type of sign information until the automatic switching action occurs, and vice-versa.

A further object is to effect the alternate transmitter operation referred to by employing a special tape symbol as a switching control, such symbol to be readable in the moving lamp display across the sign panel. Thus,

a practical formation in the message tape is had by build-k ing up alphabet characters corresponding to seven hori- 3,123,815 Patented Mar. 3, 1964 ICC zontal rows of lamps in the sign display. The symbol is interposed within the seven lines of the tape characters, so that it will be readable in the sign display as it travels, and will also serve as an index or tell-tale that the switching incident in the corresponding transmitter is taking place as prescribed.

In accordance with the foregoing, a better understanding of the improved apparatus may be gained by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a perforated message tape fragment, showing the location of the switching symbol in respect to the main subject of the traveling sign display, such as news;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing another fragment of the tape, wherein the location of the switching symbol in respect to the secondary subject of the sign display, such as advertising, is shown; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the parts and electrical circuit employed for a dual-transmitter installation.

Specific reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 shows the message tape at 42, and that the latter is punched with seven horizontal or longitudinal rows of perforations 42a adapted to form alphabet characters as shown, an extra row of perforations 42]; between the third and fourth row of perforations 42a-reading upwardly-serving for the traveling feed of the tape by suitable means. The switching symbol referred to above is of course placeable between units of messages flashed on the sign. Thus, assuming the tape to be traveling toward the left in FlG. l and the perforated word NEWS shown therein to be the last in a news message unit, the switching symbol follows on the right in the form of a 4-perforation insert 14, preferably even with the fourth row of character perforations 42a (reading upwardly). Also, if the word ADS in FIG. 2 is the last word in a commercial message on the sign, it is followed by a 4-perforation switching symbol 15, preferably even with the third row of character perforations 42a (reading upwardly), so that the category of the symbols 14 and 15 may be identified at a glance on either the tape or the sign.

Now referring to FIG. 3, one showing of the message tape 42 is noted at the top. The tape may be read mechanically or optically, as will be explained herein. For the latter purpose, a lamp 20 and lens 21 are installed above the tape, not only for reading the tape for character transmission to the sign, but for registering the occurrence of the symbols 14 and 15 as the tape is in traveling motion. This is done by installing a set of four photo-responsive cells 53 directly under the tape below the lamp 2i); and these cells are in line with the path of the special 4-perf0ration symbol 14 in the tape 42.

Both transmitters 31, located at the transmitting station, may be identical, and for the purpose of illustration the same reference numerals used in FIG. 7 only of Patent No. 2,817,703 have been adopted in the present drawing to indicate corresponding parts.

The transmitters 31 employed read the message-characters on the tapes through mechanical lingers 46 which are yieldably moved in and out of the character-holes in order to operate the transmitter contacts 41 which transmit the signals so read over a series of conductors 47, through a relay switch 48, thence over transmission conductors or channels 49 and into the coils 12-12a to operate in conjunction with the electric selective apparatus unit 31u located at the receiving station and as described in said patent.

In the illustrated form, an auxiliary tape reader Sti of the photo-optical type is shown fastened to the frame of each transmitter 31, by means of straps 51 and screws 52, and contains a series of four photo-responsive cells 53 arranged in a longitudinal row with respect to the tape in sucn a manner as to be enabled to read a group of four longitudina ly-adjacent tape-holes simultaneously. The source of light and the focusing thereof with lens 2 is such relative to the 4-hole tape symbols referred to and the spacial relationship between same and the four cells 53, that the cells receive no light through holes occurring in longitudinal rows other than those in which these symbols occur. Moreover the close proximity of the four photo-cells (even though they may be separated by the use of bent light rods) and their focal registration with the symbol-holes is such that lightfrom a group of adjacent holes less than four in number will not spread to operate all four cells simultaneously.

It will now be obvious that as the feed-wheels 32 of the transmitters 31 move the tapes to the left, the latter will be made to pass over the auxiliary tape readers 5t?, the top plates 55 of which could be made to support the photo-cells and be provided with a row of four holes (not shown) above the cells for registration with the tapesymbol holes.

The photo-cells 53 which may be of the photo-conductive, photo-voltaic or any other type are each respectively connected to the input circuit of suitable amplifiers 56 and the output circuits of the latter are designed to operate relays 57. It these relays are sui'liciently sensitive and the source of light from the lamp 2th sufficiently powerful, then the difference between the presence and absence of feed-holes in the tape may be such that the relays can be operated directly without the use of the amplifiers.

With the exception that the auxiliary transmitter 50 shown in the upper view is designed to read a particular tape symbol occurring in one of the seven lines of perforations while the auxiliary transmitter shown in the lower portion of FIG. 3 is designed to respond to a similar symbol occurring in a different longitudinal row of perorations in the tape, the transmitters, ampliers, relays and their electrical circuits in both lower and upper halves of FIG. 3 are identical. When a tape symbol 14 travels into the upper auxiliary transmitter and momentarily operates the four photo-cells simultaneously, the four corresponding relays 57, the contacts 58 of which are connected in series as shown, will close for a brief interval, causing an impulse from the battery 59 to energize a relay magnet 66. Likewise, when a tape symbol travels into the lower auxiliary transmitter and momentarily operates its four photo-cells simultaneously, tne four corresponding relays 5'7, the contacts 58 of which are connected in series as show-n, will close, causing an impulse from the battery 59 to energize another relay magnet 6i. These tape symbols may be used indexieally anywhere along the length of the tapes.

The coils 6% and 6i are the electromagnets of a pair of delayed-release relays, the armatures of which are connected together at 62; the wire 62 being extended into connection with one side of a battery 63. The other side of the latter is branched at 64 into common connection with one side of a pair of electromagnets 65 and 66, the remaining ends of said electromagnets terminating through conductors 67 and 63 into the xed contacts 69 and 7i) or" the relay coils 66 and 61.

it will new be noted that a momentary closure of the four upper relay contacts will cause battery 59 to energine the relay coil 6%; a similar momentary closure ot the tour lower relays will brietiy energize the relay coil 61. The magnets 65 and 66 are adapted to alternately operate an armature 7 i ofthe relay-switch 48. The latter comprises an S-pole, double-throw switch whose function is to selectively switch the eight conductors 49 so that the latter lines can be connected to either the upper or lower transmitters to receive tape-impulses therefrom, dependent upon the position of the switch 48 as determined by which of the two electromagnets 65 or 66 has been operated. The switch 43 can be of any suitable type designed for remaining stable in either one of two positions as determined by which of the two electromagnets 65 or 66 has been last operated to cause a switchover.

It will now be obvious that a tape symbol 14 following transmission of news will, through simultaneous 0peration of its corresponding photo-cells, cause the magnet 65 to disconnect the upper transmitter; likewise a tape symbol 15 following transmission of advertising material from the lower transmitter will, through simultaneous operation of its four corresponding photo-cells, cause the magnet 66 to disconnect the lower transmitter and simultaneously therewith switch the transmission over to the upper transmitter to enable the latter to resume the transmission of news messages. The technique made possible with my invention is such that the tape containing the news and those containing the commercials-both of which may be looped for repeat-message operationmay be so coded with symbols 14 and 15 as to enable the selective interspersment of news with commercial items so that any desired ratio between the two classes of transmitted material may be obtained. For example, assuming a ratio of 4 to 1 is desired between news and advertising material, the typist preparing a tape for the former items simply operates a key to impress the tape with symbol 14 after every fourth news headline. To further maintain this arbitrary ratio the typist would, in preparing a tape with advertising items, operate a key to impress the tape with symbol 15 after each advertising message.

Instead of metallic connections, ground returns are shown to simplify the circuit. It will be noted that seven of the eight circuits in the S-pole reversing switch 48 are employed as tape-reading circuits, while the remaining circuit is for conductor 2S through which the transmitter magnets 29 are pulsed. A switchover or reversal operation of the multiple-contact relay 48 will therefore stop the particular transmitter so disconnected from the channels from pulsing, while simultaneously effecting the pulsing of the other transmitter, as the latter is cut into the system.

The delayed-release relays are optionally employed where it may be preferred to operate the system in such a manner that the armatures of said relays tend to hold the contacts closed for a very brief interval to enable the S-pole double-throw switch to have time to elect a given switchover operation. However, it will be obvious that the delayed-release relays and their battery 63 may be eliminated by connecting the battery 59 direct to the conductor 64 so that batery 59 is made to directly and selectively operate the magnets 65 and 66.

While I have arbitrarily chosen a 4-hole tape symbol to cause the switching from one transmitter to another, it is further obvious that such symbols could be reduced to a 3 or even a 2-hole signal. If less than 2-hole were used in such symbols, then the perforations in the alphabet characters would cause undesired switchover signals, but where the alphabet, including gures and punctuation marks, is pre-designed, it is readily possible to pre-establish all the keyboard tape characters in such a manner that during normal transmission of the latter no signal even remotely resembling the symbols 14 and 15 can occur erroneously and cause a false transmitter switchover.

Instead of a plurality of amplifiers and relays, it may be desirable to connect each group of photo-cells in series or parallel and use them in such a manner as to employ but one amplifier and relay or even one single relay for each transmitter without even the necessity of an amplilier. This can be accomplished by replacing the four relays with a very sensitive one which will close its corresponding contacts only when sutlicient current passes through its coil as aiected only when all four photocells to which the coil responds are operated simultaneously. It is understood that the tapes employed in such event should be sufciently opaque to obtain the maximum distinction between a light and no-light condition in order to obtain the best response possible for the particular type of photo-cell employed.

For purposes of illustration I have shown the tape symbol-reading transmitters as auxiliary transmitters attached to main mechanical tape-readers 31 described in my Patent No. 2,817,703. However, if transmitters 31 were likewise equipped with light-responsive cells for photooptical tape-reading, then my invention could be carried out and the transmitters could be built to accomplish the same result by combining the message-reading and symbol-reading functions into one integral completely-photoresponsive unit. It may also be added that the electric selective apparatus is at the receiving station where the sign is located, while the transmitters may be located nearby or at a more distant site.

While I have depicted the use of my invention for interspersing commercial messages among news items by employing a separate transmitter for each class of items, other uses of my invention will become apparent. For example, the populace for which a traveling message sign is used could comprise a mixed-language group for each of which it is more desirable to transmit messages in their favorite language or mother tongue. In such event a message or news headline could be offered in the English language, followed by a translation of the same in a ditferent language through the medium of the abovedescribed switchover apparatus.

I claim:

1. In a changing message sign having a eld of longitudinal rows of lamps arranged to display messages moving thereacross and operated with keyboard-controlled tape apparatus for preparing tapes bearing dilferent message subjects to be displayed across said sign; the combination with electric selective apparatus local to said sign having a plurality of groups-one for each longitudinal row of lamps-of switches for said lamps and a similar plurality of signal-responsive electromagnets each of which is adapted to control the selective operation of its corresponding group of switches, a plurality of signalling channels each one of which is connected to respectively control a corresponding one of said electromagnets, a plurality of tape-readers each having a group of tape-reading elements for individually controlling the transmission of signals into the respective signalling channels, tape-controlled switching means local and common to said plurality of tape-readers and connected to permit the operation of but one of said tape-readers at a time by transferring the group of tape-reading elements of the tape-reader to be operated into signalling control of said signalling channels, indexical means associated with said message tapes and bearing a predetermined relation to the message subjects thereon, and additional photo-responsive tape-reading means associated with each of said plurality of tape-readers operable by said indexical means for controlling the operation of said switching means whereby when one of said tape-readers with a tape bearing a given message subject has its group of tape-reading elements transferred into signalling control of said signalling channels, the remaining of said tape-readers with tape bearing a different message subject remain out of control of said signalling channels and said switching means being operable in response to signals received locally in response to the photo-responsive means operable by said indeXical means.

2. In a changing message sign having a eld of longitudinal rows of lamps arranged to display messages moving thereacross and operated with a keyboard-controlled tape apparatus for preparing tapes bearing different message subjects to be displayed across said sign in the form of message characters; the combination with electric selective apparatus adjacent said sign having a plurality of groups-one for each longitudinal row of lamps-of switches for said lamps and a similar plurality of signal-responsive electromagnets each of which is adapted to control the selective operation of its corresponding group of switches, a plurality of signalling channels each one of which is connected to respectively control a corresponding one of said electromagnets, a plurality of tape-readers each having a group of tape-reading elements for individually controlling the transmission of signals into the respective signalling channels, tape-controlled switching means common to said plurality of tape-readers and connected to permit the operation of but one of said tape-readers at a time by transferring the group of tape-reading elements of the tape-reader to be operated into signalling control of said signalling channels, said tape preparing apparatus having an additional key for placing indices on said message tapes in a predetermined locative relation to the message subjects thereon and additional tape-reading means associated with each of said plurality of tape-readers and operable in response to said indices for controlling the operation of said switching means whereby when one of said tape-readers with a tape bearing a given message subject has its group of tape-reading elements transferred into signalling control of said signalling channels, the remaining of said tapereaders with tape bearing a dilferent message subject remain out of control of said signalling channels.

3. In a remote-control changing message sign having a iield of longitudinal rows of selectively illuminable elements adapted to display moving messages from tapes bearing different message subjects to be ashed across said sign; the combination with signal receiving apparatus adjacent said sign having a plurality of groups of control devices wired to control the operation of said illuminable elements, one such group for each of said longitudinal rows of illuminable elements; of an equal plurality of signal-responsive members at said receiving apparatus and each of which is adapted to controll the selective operation of its corresponding group of control devices, a plurality of signalling channels each one of which is adapted to control a corresponding one of said signal-responsive members transmitting apparatus having thereat a plurality of tape-readers each with a tape-advancing mechanism and having a group of tape-reading elements for individually controlling the transmission of signals to corresponding signal-responsive members through the medium of the respective signalling channels, tape-controlled transfer means, disposed locally of said transmitting apparatus and operated solely thereby common to said plurality of tape-readers and connected to selectively permit operation of but one of said tapereaders at a time by electrically transferring the group of tape-reading elements of the tape-reader to be operated into responsive control of said signalling channels, an additional signalling channel between said signal receiving apparatus and said tape-readers for synchronizing the operation therebetween and to permit but one tape-reader at a time to advance tape therein, indexical means associated with said message tapes and bearing a predetermined locative relation to the message subjects thereon, and additional tape-reading means associated with each of said plurality of tape-readers and responsive to said indexical means for controlling the operation of said transfer means whereby when one of said tape-readers with a tape bearing a given message subject has its group of tape-reading elements and its tape-advancing mechanism transferred into responsive control of al-l of said signalling channels, control of said signalling channels is simultaneously prevented from affecting the remaining of said tape-readers.

4. The structure of claim 3, said indexical means being provided by perforations in the tapes and such per- 7 forations being independent of and spaced from said message subjects.

5. In a tape-controlled sign comprising a display made up of a plurality of rows of selectively illuminable elements adapted to display messages thereacross, a plurality of tape transmitters having switching means for selectively switching but one transmitter at a time into controllable connection with said illuminable elements, said transmitters having message-carrying tapes, each transmitter having a single row of tape-sensing elements extending laterally across the tape and adapted to transmit the messages carried thereby, indexical means on said tapes disposed at predetermined points occurring only at locations between messages, and each transmitter having additional tape-sensing means for operating said switching means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,394,565 Long Oct. 25, 1921 2,006,999 Nachumsohn July 2, 1935 2,123,459 Andersen July 12, 1938 2,300,236 Rustad Oct. 27, 1942 2,304,775 Blanton Dec. 15, 1942 2,405,991 Beverage et al Aug. 20, 1946 2,526,829 Pierce Oct. 24, 1950 2,817,703 Naxon Dec. 24, 1957 3,007,137 Page et al Oct. 31, 1961 3,041,597 Naxon June 26, 1961 

1. IN A CHANGING MESSAGE SIGN HAVING A FIELD OF LONGITUDINAL ROWS OF LAMPS ARRANGED TO DISPLAY MESSAGES MOVING THEREACROSS AND OPERATED WITH KEYBOARD-CONTROLLED TAPE APPARATUS FOR PREPARING TAPES BEARING DIFFERENT MESSAGE SUBJECTS TO BE DISPLAYED ACROSS SAID SIGN; THE COMBINATION WITH ELECTRIC SELECTIVE APPARATUS LOCAL TO SAID SIGN HAVING A PLURALITY OF GROUPS-ONE FOR EACH LONGITUDINAL ROW OF LAMPS-OF SWITCHES FOR SAID LAMPS, AND A SIMILAR PLURALITY OF SIGNAL-RESPONSIVE ELECTROMAGNETS EACH OF WHICH IS ADAPTED TO CONTROL THE SELECTIVE OPERATION OF ITS CORRESPONDING GROUP OF SWITCHES, A PLURALITY OF SIGNALLING CHANNELS EACH ONE OF WHICH IS CONNECTED TO RESPECTIVELY CONTROL A CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID ELECTROMAGNETS, A PLURALITY OF TAPE-READERS EACH HAVING A GROUP OF TAPE-READING ELEMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALLY CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION OF SIGNALS INTO THE RESPECTIVE SIGNALLING CHANNELS, TAPE-CONTROLLED SWITCHING MEANS LOCAL AND COMMON TO SAID PLURALITY OF TAPE-READERS AND CONNECTED TO PERMIT THE OPERATION OF BUT ONE OF SAID TAPE-READERS AT A TIME BY TRANSFERRING THE GROUP OF TAPE-READING ELEMENTS OF THE TAPE-READER TO BE OPERATED INTO SIGNALLING CONTROL OF SAID SIGNALLING CHANNELS, INDEXICAL MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID MESSAGE TAPES AND BEARING A PREDETERMINED RELATION TO THE MESSAGE SUBJECTS THEREON, AND ADDITIONAL PHOTO-RESPONSIVE TAPE-READING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID PLURALITY OF TAPE-READERS OPERABLE BY SAID INDEXICAL MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF SAID SWITCHING MEANS WHEREBY WHEN ONE OF SAID TAPE-READERS WITH A TAPE BEARING A GIVEN MESSAGE SUBJECT HAS ITS GROUP OF TAPE-READING ELEMENTS TRANSFERRED INTO SIGNALLING CONTROL OF SAID SIGNALLING CHANNELS, THE REMAINING OF SAID TAPE-READERS WITH TAPE BEARING A DIFFERENT MESSAGE SUBJECT REMAIN OUT OF CONTROL OF SAID SIGNALLING CHANNELS AND SAID SWITCHING MEANS BEING OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO SIGNALS RECEIVED LOCALLY IN RESPONSE TO THE PHOTO-RESPONSIVE MEANS OPERABLE BY SAID INDEXICAL MEANS. 